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%\ n  ^Hnttoemtp  of  Cfricago 

FOUNDED  BY  JOHN  D.  ROCKEFELLER 


BULLETIN  OF  INFORMATION 


Vol.  X  MARCH  1910 


No.  2 


ASSISTANCE  TO  STUDENTS  AT 
THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CHICAGO 


Published  four  times  a  year 
February,  March,  April,  June 
THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CHICAGO 
58th  Street  and  Ellis  Avenue 
CHICAGO,  ILL. 


Entered  April  27,  1904,  at  the  Post-office  at  Chicago,  Ill.,  as  second-class  matter, 
under  Act  of  July  16,  1894 


ASSISTANCE  TO  STUDENTS  AT  THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CHICAGO 


The  various  kinds  of  assistance  offered  by  the  University,  or  in  connection 
with  it,  may  be  classified  under  seven  heads:  (i)  Fellowships;  (2)  Scholarships; 
(3)  Prizes;  (4)  University  Service;  (5)  Other  Service  in  the  University;  (6)  The 
Funds  of  Students’  Fund  Society;  (7)  Outside  Employment. 

I.  FELLOWSHIPS 

The  University  bestows  annually  Fellowships  to  the  value  of  $21,500  in  the 
Graduate  Schools,  and  $2,700  in  the  Divinity  School.  Fellowships  range  from 
$120  (covering  tuition)  to  $520  ($400  besides  tuition).  Candidates  for  Fel¬ 
lowships  should  have  attained  proficiency  in  some  department  and  shown 
promise  of  ability  in  research.  In  general,  it  is  expected  that  an  applicant  for  a 
Fellowship  will  have  spent  at  least  one  year  in  residence  study  in  some  institu¬ 
tion  of  good  standing  since  receiving  his  Bachelor’s  degree.  In  the  assignment 
of  Fellowships,  special  weight  is  given  to  evidence  of  ability  to  conduct  original 
investigation. 

The  University  provides  a  regular  form  on  which  applications  for  Fellowships 
are  made.  These  forms  are  sent  on  request.  Applications  should  be  addressed 
to  the  Deans  of  the  Graduate  Schools,  and  should  be  submitted  not  later  than 
March  1  of  the  year  preceding  the  academic  year  for  which  appointment  is  sought. 
The  annual  assignment  of  Fellowships  is  made  in  the  latter  part  of  March,  at  the 
same  time  as  in  most  other  universities.  A  Fellowship  is  available  for  any  three 
of  the  four  quarters  of  the  year  beginning  in  June  following  the  date  of  appoint¬ 
ment. 

The  University  asks  of  its  Fellows  a  modicum  of  service,  consisting  of  work 
(a)  as  an  instructor;  ( b )  as  an  assistant  in  reading  examination  papers;  (c)  as  an 
assistant  on  a  University  journal;  or  ( d )  as  an  assistant  in  one  of  the  departmental 
laboratories,  museums,  or  libraries.  In  no  case  is  a  Fellow  expected  to  devote 
so  much  time  to  the  work  here  indicated,  as  to  interfere  seriously  with  his  own 
study. 

Each  Fellow  makes  a  written  report  to  the  President  at  the  beginning  of  each 
quarter.  This  report  outlines  his  work  as  a  student,  and  the  work  assigned  to 
him  as  an  officer  of  the  University  for  the  current  quarter,  and  is  indorsed  by 
the  Head  of  the  Department  before  it  is  transmitted  to  the  President.  The 
report  blanks  may  be  procured  at  the  Information  Office. 


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4 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CHICAGO 


II.  SCHOLARSHIPS 

Scholarships  are  divided  into  two  classes:  Honor  Scholarships  and  Service 
Scholarships. 

Honor  Scholarships  in  the  Graduate  Schools  and  in  the  Senior  Colleges  are 
assigned  on  the  recommendation  of  departments.  Twenty  such  scholarships 
are  assigned  each  year  to  students  entering  the  Graduate  Schools  from  the  Senior 
Colleges,  and  twelve  to  students  entering  the  Senior  Colleges  from  the  Junior 
Colleges.  There  are  also  a  limited  number  of  Honor  Scholarships  assigned  on 
entrance  to  the  University,  for  excellence  of  work  in  preparation  for  college. 

Twenty  Honor  Scholarships  are  assigned  in  June  to  the  twenty  first-year 
students  in  the  Junior  Colleges  who  have  the  highest  records  for  the  past  three 
quarters.  No  service  is  required  of  holders  of  Honor  Scholarships. 

Service  Scholarships  are  assigned  to  applicants  who  have  attained  at  least 
B  in  their  work.  They  are  intended  especially  for  students  who  need  financial 
assistance.  Holders  of  Service  Scholarships  are  expected  to  render  the  University 
service  to  the  amount  of  ten  hours  per  week.  This  service  is  usually  in  libraries, 
but  is  not  so  restricted. 

Applications  for  scholarships  are  made  to  the  Deans  of  the  several  Schools 
and  Colleges.  Scholarships  are  usually  granted  in  the  spring  for  three  quarters 
of  the  year  beginning  July  i;  but  it  is  understood  that  a  scholarship  may  be  can¬ 
celed  at  the  end  of  any  quarter  should  the  work  of  the  student  fall  below  the  grade 
at  which  the  appointment  was  made. 

III.  TUITION  FEE  PRIZES 

A  number  of  prizes  are  awarded  annually  by  the  University.  In  the  Junior 
Colleges  contests  in  public  speaking  and  debate  are  held  during  the  year.  Each 
of  the  successful  contestants  receives  a  scholarship  yielding  the  amount  of  the 
University  tuition  fees  for  one  quarter. 

The  value  of  $480  in  scholarships  is  awarded  annually  to  winners  of  the 
University  debate,  in  the  contest  for  the  University  debating  team.  To  the  winners 
of  the  University  oratorical  contest  for  the  selection  of  a  representative  of  the 
University  in  the  contest  of  the  Northern  Oratorical  League,  scholarships  to  the 
value  of  $240  are  awarded.  Tuition  fee  prizes  may  be  used  only  for  payment  of 
fees  due  after  the  date  of  award ,  and  not  to  cancel  notes  or  meet  deferred  payments. 

IV.  UNIVERSITY  SERVICE 

Another  means  of  assistance  to  students  consists  of  University  Service.  Stu¬ 
dents  who  receive  assignments  to  such  service  are  employed  a  limited  number 
of  hours  as  clerks  or  messengers  in  the  various  offices  of  the  University,  and  are 
remunerated  at  a  rate  varying  from  twenty  to  thirty  cents  per  hour,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  work.  Compensation  takes  the  form  of  a  cash  payment, 
made  after  the  service  has  been  rendered.  In  general,  no  student  receives  an 
appointment  who  has  not  been  a  member  of  the  University  for  at  least  one  quarter, 
and  paid  University  fees  in  full  for  this  period.  A  creditable  record  in  studies,  and 


ASSISTANCE  TO  STUDENTS 


5 


faithful  performance  of  work  assigned,  are  also  conditions  of  University  Service, 
and  it  is  understood  that  an  assignment  may  be  canceled  at  any  time  for  failure 
in  either  of  these  respects.  Applications  must  be  filed  at  the  Bureau  of  Informa¬ 
tion  at  least  five  weeks  before  the  opening  of  the  quarter  in  which  service  is  to  be 
rendered.  Applications  are  submitted  to  the  Deans  for  approval. 

V.  OTHER  SERVICE  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY 

Remissions  of  tuition  to  the  amount  of  $1,200  are  granted  to  the  University 
Choir,  each  person  receiving  a  portion  or  all  of  his  tuition  fees,  according  to  his 
ability.  Members  of  the  University  Band  are  paid  in  a  similar  way,  the  appro¬ 
priation  for  tuition  for  members  amounting  to  more  than  $2,500.  Thus  there  is 
a  special  opportunity  at  the  University  for  persons  of  musical  talent  to  defray  a 
portion  of  their  expenses.  Inquiries  on  these  points  may  be  addressed  to  the 
Director  of  the  University  Choir,  and  the  Director  of  the  University  Band,  the 
University  of  Chicago. 

Another  source  of  income  for  students  is  waiting  on  table  in  the  Men’s  Com¬ 
mons,  the  compensation  being  furnished  in  board.  The  rate  of  compensation 
for  this  service  is  twenty  cents  an  hour. 

VI.  THE  STUDENTS’  FUND  SOCIETY 

As  a  rule,  the  University  does  not  encourage  students  to  borrow  money. 
There  are  cases,  however,  where  this  may  be  done  wisely.  For  such  cases, 
limited  provision  is  made  by  the  Students’  Fund  Society,  composed  of  a  number 
of  citizens  of  Chicago,  who  work  in  co-operation  with  representatives  of  the  Uni¬ 
versity.  This  society  makes  loans  to  students  upon  the  joint  recommendation 
of  its  own  committee  and  the  committee  of  the  faculty. 

Students  are  not  eligible  for  loans  until  they  have  been  members  of  the  Univer¬ 
sity  for  at  least  one  quarter,  and  have  made  creditable  records  as  students.  Appli¬ 
cations  are  considered  by  the  committee  of  the  faculty  at  the  end  of  each  quarter; 
but  in  order  that  the  necessary  preliminary  information  may  be  secured,  all  appli¬ 
cations  for  loans  to  be  granted  in  any  quarter  must  be  submitted  at  least  a  month 
in  advance.  Application  blanks,  which  may  be  secured  at  the  Bureau  of  Infor¬ 
mation,  should  be  filled  out  in  duplicate,  and  deposited  with  the  President’s 
Secretary.  In  addition,  each  applicant  should  consult  personally  with  the  chair¬ 
man  of  the  faculty  committee,  Professor  J.  Laurence  Laughlin.  Failure  to  con¬ 
sult  with  the  chairman  is  sufficient  reason  for  the  rejection  of  an  application. 

VII.  OUTSIDE  EMPLOYMENT 

The  University  of  Chicago  is  situated  in  a  city  where  opportunities  for  employ¬ 
ment  are  many.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  a  large  number  of  students,  both  men 
and  women,  are  able  to  earn  a  part  of  their  expenses  by  outside  work,  if  they  have 
the  requisite  energy  and  ability.  Among  the  kinds  of  employment  which  such 
students  have  found  are  the  following:  tutoring;  clerical  work;  typewriting  and 
stenography;  draughting;  bookkeeping;  collecting  accounts;  work  in  railway 


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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CHICAGO 


stations;  operating  stereopticons;  carrying  newspapers;  canvassing  for  City 
Telephone  Co.;  operating  night  telephone  switch-board;  canvassing  for  city 
directory;  work  for  express  companies;  work  on  Saturdays  and  holidays  in 
stores;  waiting  on  table;  housework;  caring  for  lawns  and  furnaces;  night 
work  in  hotels;  packing  books  and  furniture;  operating  soda  fountains; 
addressing  and  mailing  circulars;  posting  advertisements;  ushering  in  theaters; 
janitor  work;  caring  for  children;  moving  and  dusting  books;  wheeling  invalids; 
work  in  newspaper  offices;  work  as  chauffeurs;  work  as  companions;  pen-work 
copying;  decorating  halls  for  entertainments;  serving  at  polls  on  election  day; 
assisting  photographers;  other  miscellaneous  work. 

Persons  of  special  skill,  as  stenographers,  operators  of  stereopticons,  photog¬ 
raphers,  etc.,  have  an  advantage  over  those  without  special  training.  But  experi¬ 
ence  has  proved  that  students  of  ability  and  persistence  may  succeed,  even  without 
initial  skill  in  any  one  line. 

A  word  should  be  said  in  regard  to  tutoring.  This  work  is  under  the  special 
supervision  of  the  University,  which  aims  to  protect  students  from  incompetent 
guidance.  To  this  end,  the  Board  of  Recommendations  keeps  on  file  a  list  of 
official  tutors  who  have  been  indorsed  by  the  Heads  of  Departments  in  which 
they  offer  instruction.  Persons  desiring  pupils  should  invariably  obtain  this 
indorsement  and  formally  register  with  the  Board,  and  persons  needing  the  assist¬ 
ance  of  tutors,  should,  in  their  own  interests,  require  this  formality  of  tutors  whom 
they  engage. 

In  general,  students  may  be  greatly  aided  in  finding  employment  by  availing 
themselves  of  the  services  of  the  Employment  Agency  of  the  Bureau  of  Informa¬ 
tion,  which  is  conducted  without  charge  either  to  employers  or  employees.  This 
Bureau  keeps,  on  the  one  hand,  a  register  of  students  who  come  to  it  seeking 
employment,  and,  on  the  other,  a  list  of  positions.  By  letters  addressed  to  employ¬ 
ers  stating  the  opportunity  which  the  Bureau  affords  them  to  obtain  capable  help, 
and  by  personal  interviews  and  applications,  the  Manager  of  the  Bureau  seeks  to 
maintain  and  increase  the  number  of  positions  which  are  open  to  students. 

The  Bureau  has  been  able  to  aid  a  considerable  number  of  women  to  find 
employment  in  housework,  the  care  of  children,  as  companions,  etc. 

Although  the  aggregate  of  assistance  to  students  is  large,  employment  cannot 
be  guaranteed,  and  no  amount  of  organization  can  take  the  place  of  energy  and 
economy  in  the  student  himself.  Every  student  must  bear  the  chief  burden  of 
his  own  support,  and  of  this  burden  no  organization  can  relieve  him.  Few 
students  are  equal  to  the  task  of  carrying  on  University  work  successfully,  and  at 
the  same  time  earning  sufficient  money  to  meet  all  their  expenses.  It  is  especially 
important  that  students  coming  to  the  University  for  the  first  time  have  sufficient 
money  to  meet  their  expenses  for  a  few  months  at  least.  The  opportunities  for 
earning  money  increase  as  students  become  acquainted  with  the  city  and  prove 
themselves  efficient. 


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